Biden, Kishida to hold talks about security, coronavirus and climate change

The US president and the Japanese prime minister will meet virtually on Friday to discuss bilateral ties and security in the Pacific region

Also on the agenda will be the battle against Covid-19, climate change concerns and exploring new technologies, said White House

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US President Joe Biden will hold a virtual meeting with Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida. Photo: Bloomberg

Published: 7:46am, 17 Jan 2022

US President Joe Biden and Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida will meet virtually Friday to discuss bilateral ties as well as security in the Pacific region, the White House said.

On the agenda will be fighting Covid-19, climate change and exploring new technologies, according to a statement Sunday from the White House.

“The meeting will highlight the strength of the US-Japan Alliance, which is the cornerstone of peace, security, and stability in the Indo-Pacific and around the world,” White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki said in the statement.

Japan’s Prime Minister Fumio Kishida will hold a virtual meeting with US President Joe Biden. Photo: EPA

“President Biden looks forward to working with Prime Minister Kishida to advance our shared vision for a free and open Indo-Pacific,” Psaki said, adding that the two will discuss issues pertaining to the “Quad,” the alliance formed among the United States, Japan, India and Australia which seeks to counter China’s growing influence in Asia.

Biden and Kishida met in person during the COP26 climate summit in Scotland last year and previously spoke by telephone when Kishida was elected in October.